When jetting off on a vacation, the vast majority of people tend to choose sunny destinations that provide the perfect conditions to spend lots of time outdoors. These sunny, warm locations let you and your family or friends enjoy lots of different activities and really make the most of your time away from home. Nobody wants to be all cooped up indoors while on vacation, so it makes sense that sunny places like Australia are very popular in general throughout the year. And when it comes to booking a vacation to Australia, Sydney is the most popular city of them all. CDC information for travelers. Hours/availability may have changed.
5 Best Sydney Beaches
- Bondi Beach, Photo: Zstock/stock.adobe.com
- Gordons Bay, Photo: Keitma/stock.adobe.com
- Watsons Bay, Photo: kaipong/stock.adobe.com
- Bronte Beach, Photo: Corey Hamilton/stock.adobe.com
- Balmoral Beach, Photo: katacarix/stock.adobe.com
- More Info, Photo: Jodie Johnson/stock.adobe.com
- Cover Photo: Courtesy of Kar Tr - Fotolia.com
More Ideas in Australia: Sunshine Coast
The beautiful Sunshine Coast in Marcoola, Queensland, Australia, is a beach dream come true. For families, sports enthusiasts, hikers, surfers, and even just people stopping through, the coast has something fun for everyone to do. The history of the Sunshine Coast stretches all the way back to the 1800s, when it was first discovered as a settlement to start a local timber business. The trees, luckily, have continued to flourish and form a lot of the hiking attraction of the coast.
History
Since then, attractions, restaurants, shops, and more have been added and continue to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. It is now the third most populated area in Queensland after being officially defined in 1967 as a tourist destination. It even has its own government now, meant to help preserve and protect the people and the environment.
Permanent Attractions
While the coast is meant to be enjoyed as a whole, below are a few of the categories of attractions that can be found while visiting.
Beaches- As the name implies, the Sunshine Coast is made up of many diverse and beautiful beaches for guests to explore. Often considered some of the best beaches in the world, the over 18 different beaches offer different attractions. Each beach is described in detail on the Sunshine Coast website.
National Parks- The Hinterland is a paradise for guests who are looking to get out into nature and explore! The over 21 different attractions that comprise the Sunshine Coast national parks system are not to be missed!
Parks and gardens- For those who want their nature a little tamer, there are four different parks and gardens areas that focus on the botanical side of Sunshine Coast and are easier for guests to see in their entirety.
Zoos, sanctuaries, and aquariums- Like to see wildlife up close and personal? Check out the two different zoos, sanctuaries, and aquariums located on Sunshine Coast. Wildlife HQ and Australia Zoos all guests to see wildlife that is native to Australia while learning about their specific environments!
Coastal walk- Visit Caloundra, the beautiful coastal walk that takes guests up the entirety of the coast (over 25 kilometers in length) and allows sightings of dolphins and wild birds! There is also a family friendly beach along the coastal walk.
Trails- There are two trails located on the Sunshine Coast - Mount Cooroora and Lake Cootharaba. Mount Cooroora takes hikers to the very summit (439 metres) of the mountain and is challenging even for experienced hikers. Lake Cootharaba is less challenging, but just as fun for hikers from the most experienced to the novice.
Adventure and sports- The Sunshine Coast is alive with different outdoor adventure and sports activities! With air tours (by parasail), golfing, horseback riding, bicycling, and water sports, there is something for every guest (from the tame to the adrenaline junkies). The website offers a complete index of all available activities, including how to reserve and additional cost involved.
Attractions- The Sunshine Coast is also home a variety of amusement rides and attractions for the whole family to enjoy. Check out the indoor trampoline park, the aqua park, the enormous maze, and Aussie World (a huge theme park experience). Many of the attractions do require an additional cost, to guests are encouraged to check the website prior to visiting.
Special Events
The Sunshine Coast is host to many different special events and festivals throughout the entire year. There are community-based events, food festivals, live music, and more, and the website maintains an up to date calendar of them all. A few of the favorites of recent guests are the Asian Food Festival, the Cheese, Wine, and Food Fest, and the “Big Pineapple” Music Festival. These events draw thousands of visitors to the coast and offer a unique section of the local culture in a fun and exciting way.
During February, visitors enjoy the Mooloolaba Beach Festival, a whole weekend of fun events that celebrate the coast and its sun, sand, and culture.
There are also frequent sports events, like triathlons, marathons, surfing championships, and YogaFest (a festival that honors yoga while also keeping people healthy and bringing in famous yoga teachers). The Stadium also hosts multiple championship games for local rugby teams.
Dining and Shopping
The Sunshine Coast is well known for its food and drink offerings, with a selection of restaurants, fresh produce, and even different cooking schools! There are also many different shopping venues, like market, retail shops, and even shopping centers that allow a variety of stores to exist in the same area. Stop by a pick up a reminder of a visit to the beautiful Sunshine Coast.
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More Ideas in Australia: Dive Hotel in Coogee
Overlooking the beautiful Coogee Beach in Coogee, New South Wales, Australia, The Dive Hotel is a stylish, relaxed boutique hotel with comfortable accommodations, modern conveniences, and a laid-back ambiance. Situated just a stone's throw away from the beautiful white sandy beach, green parks and shimmering ocean swimming pools, the hotel is ideally placed for enjoying a peaceful beach break without the crowds.
Pleasant accommodations in the form of light and airy guest rooms feature private balconies and beautiful ocean views, and modern amenities such as cable television, mini-fridges, microwaves and complimentary wireless Internet add creature comforts. A delicious complimentary continental breakfast is served in the casual dining area and patio that overlooks the garden.
The Dive Hotel is just a short drive away from Sydney's city center and famous attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Cricket Ground, Randwick Racecourse, Fox Studios, and the Allianz Stadium.
The Dive Hotel also has an Annexe just a few blocks away from the hotel, which can accommodate families or small groups or guests wanting a longer stay that cannot be accommodated for at the hotel. This comfortable home-away-from-home is a three-bedroom duplex with two bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen and dining room and a small sunny garden.
Accommodations at The Dive Hotel range from Standard Queen and King Rooms to Balcony and Oceanview Rooms to Premier Oceanview Rooms. All rooms have private tiled bathrooms with showers and hairdryers and fully equipped kitchenettes with microwaves and refrigerators. Sitting areas feature flat-screen televisions with cable channels, and there is air-conditioning throughout.
Standard Queen and King Rooms have queen or king-size beds with crisp, clean linens, private mosaic tiled bathrooms with walk-in showers, thick towels, hairdryers and branded bath products, and sunny sitting areas with comfortable armchairs.
Balcony Rooms are slightly larger than the Standard Queen and King Rooms and feature king-size beds with crisp, clean linens, mosaic tiled bathrooms with walk-in showers, thick towels, hairdryers and branded bath products, and private balconies with lovely views over the neighborhood.
Oceanview Rooms are spacious and bright with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the room with natural light and boast breathtaking ocean views. These rooms feature king-size bedswith crisp, clean linens, extra sleeper sofa beds, mosaic tiled bathrooms with walk-in showers, thick towels, hairdryers and branded bath products. Private suntrap balconies offer the perfect place to relax with beautiful views.
Premier Oceanview Rooms are luxurious havens of tranquility with private first-floor balconies that overlook the ocean. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the room with natural light and boast breathtaking ocean views, while interiors are stylishly furnished with contemporary decor in nautical tones and offer plush armchairs and a glass table. Bedrooms feature king-size bedswith crisp, clean linens, and private mosaic tiled bathrooms enjoy walk-in showers and separate baths, thick towels, hairdryers and branded bath products.
A complimentary light breakfast is served in the sunny breakfast room or open-air courtyard every morning. Tuck into a healthy meal of fresh orange juice, thick yogurt with honey, sliced peaches, premium, toasted muesli and freshly brewed coffee by Lavazza and Coffee Roasters.
The Dive Hotel overlooks the pristine beach of Coogee and the beautiful surrounding area, which has much to offer in the way of things to see and do. The beach itself is a stunning crescent-shaped beach fringed by a park and sheltered by craggy cliffs, with the aptly named Wedding Cake Island, just offshore.
There are several open-air swimming pools within walking distance of the hotel, including Wylie's Baths, an idyllic 100-year old ocean pool nestled amongst the rocky shoreline with a massive wooden sundeck suspended from Coogee's cliff face and it's very own resident octopus! McIvers Ladies Baths is a beautiful 70-year old women's and children's swimming pool just along the shore.
Take a stroll along one of Sydney's most spectacular walks - the Coogee to Bondi Beach Clifftop Walk, which is lined with weathered rocky platforms and rugged cliffs, glistening rock pools that teem with marine life and a brooding cliff-top cemetery.
Join Sydney's die-hard footie fans and take in a game at the Sydney Football Stadium, which is a short drive away from the hotel.
Back to: Anniversary Vacation Ideas.
234 Arden Street, Coogee, Sydney, New South Wales 2034, Phone: 6-129-665-5538
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More Ideas in Australia: Great Ocean Road
The Great Ocean Road is located in Australia. The one hundred and fifty-one miles stretch of road runs the length of the south-eastern coast and is one Australia’s most interesting tourist attractions. The Great Ocean Road runs through rainforests, along beaches and cliffs made of sandstone and limestone.
History
Planning for the road began at the end of World War I as a way to provide jobs for returning soldiers. The Great Ocean Road’s purpose would be to connect the various remote settlements found on the coast and become an important transport system for tourism and the timber industry. The surveying portion of the road began in 1918 with the project tentatively called the South Coast Road.
The construction on the Great Ocean Road started in September of 1919. The road was constructed by three thousand returned soldiers as a memorial for their fallen comrades. The construction was completed by hand as well as the use of explosives, shovels, picks, wheel barrows, and small machinery. The work was dangerous, and several workers were killed while working.
Construction on the Great Ocean Road was finished in March of 1922. It was closed again in May for more work and reopened again in December. Tolls were set up to earn back some of the money that was spent on the construction. The Great Ocean Road was considered by the Tourist Development Authority to be one the best scenic roads in the world, in 1962.
Things to See and Do
The Great Ocean Road is one hundred and fifty-one miles long. Along the road there are several things for visitors to see and do.
Nature- For visitors interested in nature attractions there are several National Parks and beaches for them to explores.
· Port Campbell National Park- This park extends from Princtown to Peterborough. These historic sites have represented the Great Ocean Road. Some of these include Loch Ard Gorge, London Bridge, The Arch, and Grotto. The park is full of trails and lookouts over the coast as well that tell some of Australia’s history. Port Campbell Jetty is also an attraction found in this park.
· The Southern Ocean- Visitors can explore the changing landscapes, heights, and colors of the Southern Ocean from Torquay to Portland.
· 12 Apostles- This is one of the most renowned areas on the Great Ocean Road. It is located in Port Campbell National Park an is a huge limestone structure that rises forty forty-five meters over the Southern Ocean.
· Great Otway National Park- This park contains jagged coastlines, rock platforms, sandy beaches, and windswept heathland. The park also features ferny gullies, tranquil lakes, impressive waterfalls, and tall forests in the north. In the southern part of the park the rainforest runs into the ocean creating a dramatic change.
· Beaches- The Great Ocean Road offers several beaches along it’s length for visitors to enjoy.
Outdoor Recreation- The Great Ocean Road boasts several opportunities for outdoor recreational activities. These activities include walking, surfing, paddle boarding, canoeing, biking, golfing, and fishing.
Art- The Great Ocean Road has inspired artists with different medium preferences for years. Some of the artwork visitors should make it a point to check out along the way include:
· Luone- This is an Australian jewelry label that features handcrafted jewelry collections. These collections use gems and pearls and combine them with sterling silver, rose gold, and yellow gold.
· Peter (P.K) Kirkhouse- Peter Kirkhouse is a photographer that has used the Great Ocean Road for the last twenty-five years.
· Southern Ocean Dreaming- This is a photographic collection by Peter Kirkhouse that has been set to music from artists local to the area and turned into a modern story that takes viewers through Gatabanut Peek Whurrong and Kirrae Whurrong country.
· Brett Clark- Brett Clark is an indigenous artist that boasts tunes with a funky edge and soulful voice that covers a wide range of musical genres.
Towns and Villages- There are several towns and villages along the Great Ocean Road that visitors will enjoy exploring. Some of these include Pennyroyal Valley, Peterborough, Princetown, Port Campbell, Port Fairy, Portland, Skene’s Creek, Skipton, Terang, Timboon, and Torquay.
The Great Ocean Walk- The Great Ocean Walk includes eight days that can be customized to fit your own vision of a unique experience. The walk takes participants along rocky seashore, beneath tall trees, across deserted beaches, and to cliff-top vistas with amazing views. Licensed tour guides are available for those who wish to take advantage of their in-depth knowledge of Australia’s natural landscapes, and historical anecdotes.
Dining
There are several dining options along the Great Ocean Road. Some of these include Run Rabbit Run Café, Pavilion Café and Bar, and Torquay Waves Italian Restaurant.
More Things to Do in Australia
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